Human Major Histocompatibility Complex class I and class II molecules presenting M-001-derived influenza peptides (MHC-M-001)

The Human MHC class I and class II molecules presenting multimeric-001-derived conserved influenza peptides are the functional immunological complexes formed following administration of the M-001 vaccine (BiondVax) [1]. M-001 is a recombinant protein containing nine conserved epitopes from the influenza A and B virus hemagglutinin (HA), nucleoprotein (NP), and matrix (M1) proteins [2]. These epitopes are selected for their high conservation across different viral strains and their ability to bind a wide range of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) alleles, ensuring broad population coverage [3]. Once M-001 is administered, it is internalized by antigen-presenting cells, processed, and the resulting peptides are presented on MHC Class I and Class II molecules [1]. This presentation triggers the activation and proliferation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and CD4+ helper T cells, respectively, which provide a cellular immune defense against influenza infection [4]. By targeting conserved internal and surface proteins, this mechanism aims to provide protection against both seasonal drift and pandemic shift, independent of the specific circulating strains [2, 3]. While the M-001 vaccine candidate did not meet its primary endpoints in a large Phase 3 clinical trial, the concept of targeting these specific pMHC complexes remains a cornerstone of universal influenza vaccine research [4, 5]. Sources: [1] Atsmon, J., et al. (2012) Vaccine; [2] Ben-Yedidia, T., et al. (1999) Int Immunol; [3] BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd; [4] ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03450915); [5] Gottlieb, T., et al. (2014) Vaccine.

Other names

M-001 peptide-MHC complexMultimeric-001 epitopesUniversal influenza vaccine targetBiondVax M-001 targetConserved influenza peptide-MHC complexes

Vaccine-derived peptides are loaded onto MHC class I and II molecules to prime and activate cellular immune responses (CD4+ and CD8+ T cells) against conserved viral regions.